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(April 29, 1896 – July 11, 1916) was a noted American Standardbred pacer. At a time when harness racing was one of the largest sports in the nation, Dan Patch was a major celebrity. He was undefeated in open competition and was so dominant on the racetrack that other owners eventually refused to enter their horses against him. Instead, he ended his racing career performing time trials and traveled extensively on exhibition, earning millions of dollars in purses, attendance gate receipts and product endorsements. Dan Patch broke world speed records at least 14 times in the early 1900s. In 1905, he set a world's record for the fastest mile by a harness horse (1:551⁄4 – 1 minute, 55 1⁄4 seconds) that stood unmatched for over 30 years. Unofficially, Dan Patch broke this record in 1906 with a clocking of 1:55. He died on July 11, 1916. His owner Marion Willis Savage died just one day later.[1]
Dan Patch was inducted into the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in 1953 and the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
Messner was the owner of a dry goods store in Oxford and traveled extensively as a buyer of clothing and fabrics and other items for his growing business. During these trips, he frequently went to the harness races and probably made small bets with his friends. Despite his long-standing interest in the sport, Zelica was the first horse he ever owned.[2]
In 1902, Messner sold Dan Patch to Manley E. Sturges (sometimes spelled Sturgis) of New York, for a record $20,000.[7] Sturges first became interested in Dan Patch in 1901 when he placed a large bet on the horse in a race at Brighton Beach.[10] Sturges was the part owner and operator of an illegal but highly profitable casino in Manhattan, the Victoria Club. Although the casino was frequently raided, Sturges was never arrested and maintained a low profile. He made his first offer for Dan Patch in the summer of 1901 and was finally successful some seven months later in February 1902. At that time, Messner cited many reasons for the sale, including the record price and the pressure of running his store. Years later however, Messner said that he had felt threatened by Sturges. A two-year-old daughter of Dan Patch died suddenly in February 1902, apparently from poisoning, and Messner believed that Sturges was responsible.[11]
In turn, Sturges sold Dan Patch in December 1902 to Marion Willis Savage, a resident of Hamilton (later Savage) Minnesota, for the then unheard of price of $60,000 (equivalent to $1,740,000 in 2018). Savage was the owner of the International Stock Food Company, which specialized in feed supplements for animals, and used the horse to advertise the business.[12] Savage took great pride in his champion and was reported as saying he loved Dan Patch like a son.[13] When not on exhibition, Dan Patch lived in Minnesota, either in the stable of Savage's Minneapolis mansion or at Savage's sprawling farm in Hamilton in an extravagant stable known as the "Taj Mahal".[7][12]
Breed - Standardbred
Gait - Pace
Sire - Joe Patchen
Grandsire - Patchen Wilkes
Dam - Zelica
Damsire - Wilkesberry
Sex - Stallion
Foaled - April 29, 1896
Died - July 11, 1916
Color - Dark bay
Breeder - Daniel Messner, Jr
Owner(s) - Daniel Messner, Jr , Manley E Sturges (1902), Marion Willis Savage (1902-1916)
Record - Undefeated
Driver(s) - John Wattles (1900), Myron McHenry (1901 - 1903), Harry Hersey (1904 - 1909)
Mile record - 1:55 & 1/4 (unofficially 1:55)
Dan Patch made his first start as a four-year-old in 1900. At the time, harness races consisted of multiple heats – a horse had to win a majority of heats (usually three out of a possible five heats) to be declared the race winner.[8][a] During his career, Dan Patch never lost a race and lost only two heats.[14] The first of those two losses occurred in his second start against what was termed "real competition" at the Lafayette fair. In that heat, Dan Patch was last at the beginning of the homestretch and despite closing rapidly, lost by a nose. The other loss occurred in 1901 at Brighton Beach in a heat where it was determined by the judges that the driver was "not driving to win", much to the fury of the crowd.[8]
Dan Patch 1:55, an advertisement from Breeder and Sportsman (1911)
In 1906, the National Trotting Association banned the use of wind shields, although they did allow Dan Patch's 1905 records to stand. Thus, his official best mile is 1:551⁄4. Unofficially, his best time was 1:55, paced in September 1906 at the Minnesota State Fair. Savage was so indignant about the 1:55 mark not being recognized that he renamed his International Stock Food Farm to the International 1:55 Stock Food Farm. Savage later used Dan Patch and his offspring in ads for the farm, with the 1:55 time clearly included.[31] The 1:55 mark was equaled in following years but was not broken until 1960, 54 years after Dan Patch's run, when Adios Butler paced the first sub-1:55 mile in 1:54:3.
Although Dan Patch continued to make public appearances and posted some excellent times, he was never able to achieve that level again. The closest he came was on October 11, 1908 at Lexington, when he paced the first three-quarters of a mile in an exceptional 1:251⁄2 before his prompter started bleeding and slowed down. Dan Patch was forced to check but still finished the mile in 1:561⁄4. Savage advertised that Dan Patch would otherwise have finished in 1:54, which "the Horse Papers and all Horsemen admit was the Fastest and Greatest Performance in the life of the World Famous Harness Horse King."[32]
Dan Patch's achievements made him a sports celebrity, possibly the most famous athlete in America until Babe Ruth. His name and likeness were used to sell a vast array of merchandise including whiskey bottles, shot glasses, cigars, coffee, billiard cues and sheet music.[33] At the height of his fame, he earned more than $1 million a year for his owner and was billed as "kindhearted, generous, and a staunch Methodist who never performed on a Sunday."[8]
Among the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out for a glimpse of the horse over his career was Dwight Eisenhower, who lined up with his parents at the 1904 Kansas State Fair. Harry Truman recalled that as a boy he had written a fan letter to the horse.[34]
Location
ReadvilleColumbus
Brighton Beach
Lima, Ohio
Lexington
Memphis
Memphis
Memphis
Birmingham
Macon
Macon
Memphis
Oklahoma City
Lexington
Lexington
Memphis
MN State Fair
Distance
1 mi1⁄2 mi
1 mi
1 mi (on half-mile track)
1 mi
1 mi
1⁄2 mi
1 mi
1 mile (on half-mile track)
1 mi
2 mi
1 mi
1 mile (on half-mile track)
1 mi
1 mi
1 mi
1 mi
Format
Time trial (unprompted)Time trial
Time trial
Time trial
Pacing to wagon
Time trial
Time trial
Pacing to wagon
Time trial
High-wheeled sulky
Time trial
Time trial
Time trial
Time trial
Time Trial
Time Trial (unprompted)
Time Trial
Time
1:59 1⁄4 *:57 3⁄4 **
1:59
2:04
1:59 1⁄4
1:56 1⁄4
:56 flat
1:57 1⁄4
2:03 1⁄4
2:04 3⁄4
4:19
1:56
2:03 flat
1:56 ***
1:55 1⁄4
1:58
1:55 (unofficial)
*Tied Star Pointer's world record
**Tied Prince Alert's world record
***Tied own world record
Dan Patch retired undefeated in 1909 as the holder of nine world records, and spent much of his later life attending exhibitions.[8] Even during his racing career, he was used for stallion duty with a stud fee of between $300 and $500,[12][26] though he was never exposed to the best mares. He had a moderately successful stud career but never sired a horse close to his ability. He sired 38 trotters who met the 2m:30s standard with 1 breaking 2:10. He also sired 138 pacers who met the standard, 5 of whom broke the 2:05 barrier. Dazzle Patch was his most successful son but died young and left only a few foals behind. Dan Patch's name is rare in modern pedigrees.[3] His most famous descendant is Hall of Famer Jate Lobell, who traces to Dan Patch's daughter Theda Patch in the female line.[35][1]
In July 1916, Savage went into the hospital for minor hemorrhoid surgery. At the same time, Dan Patch suffered an attack of colic, from which he soon seemed to recover. However, at 10:00 AM on July 11, Dan Patch collapsed, thrashed his legs in a pacing motion and then died of a massive heart attack.[1] Savage was notified and indicated that he wished to have Dan Patch stuffed and mounted.[13]Before this could be done, Savage died on July 12 of a pulmonary embolism.[1]
The tombstone memorial of Dan Patch in Oxford, Indiana.
Dan Patch Toastmasters club website.
Dan Patch, MNopedia.
Dan Patch Race Poster, Minnesota Reflections.
Dan Patch biography, images and link to newsreel footage
Leerhsen, Charles, Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, the Most Famous Horse in America, 2008, New York: Simon & Schuster.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 12: Finish Line". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 2: The Shopkeeper of Oxford, Indiana". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub. ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b c d McCarr, Ken (June 29, 1966). "From This Came a Champion" (PDF). danpatch.com (reprint from The Harness Horse). Retrieved January 5, 2017.
^ "Hoosiers banned betting on horses despite Dan Patch". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 4: Messner's Folly". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ "Dan Patch - Bio". Harness Horse Racing News. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c "Dan Patch - Bio". Dan Patch Historical Society. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Waite, Gerald. "Dan Patch". Indiana Historical Society. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 5: A Racehorse After All". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 8: The Big Stage". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 9: A Gambler Takes a Chance". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub. ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i Smith, Sharon B. "Chapter 10: Racing Against Time". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b "M. W. Savage, Noted Horseman, Is Dead". news.google.com. The Nevada Daily Mail - Google News Archive Search. July 13, 1916. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d "DAN PATCH biography". Harness Museum. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 6: On the Wings of the Wind". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ Jump up to:a b c Smith, Sharon B. (2012). "Chapter 7: A Star Is Born". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ "The Pacing King". news.google.com. The Daily News-Review - Google News Archive Search. January 21, 1902. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^ "The Big Poultry Show - Hendricks Pioneer - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
^ "DAN PATCH BEAT RECORD; Great Pacer Lowered World's Mile Time to 1:59 at Brighton. With Conditions of Track and Weather Against Him the Unconquered Horse Cut Star Pointer's Figures". The New York Times. 20 August 1903. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^ "World Records". www.standardbredcanada.ca. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
^ "DAN PATCH AGAIN KING OF PACERS; Makes New World's Mile Record at Memphis in 1:56 1-4. Had the Aid of a Runner, but No Wind Shield Used -- Enthusiasm on the Track". The New York Times. 23 October 1903. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^ "Dan Patch SMASHES 2 world records in 45 minutes" (PDF). danpatch.com (reprint from the Philadelphia Inquirer). October 28, 1903. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d "Dan Patch Breaks Two More -- Robinson Constitution - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Robinson Constitution. November 11, 1903. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b "DAN PATCH BEAT RECORD; Great Pacer Lowered World's Mile Time to 1:59 at Brighton. With Conditions of Track and Weather Against Him the Unconquered Horse Cut Star Pointer's Figures". The New York Times. 20 August 1903. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c "NEW RECORDS FOR DAN PATCH.; Champion Pacer, at Macon, Ga., Lowered Two World's Marks Under Unfavorable Conditions". The New York Times. 1 December 1903. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j k Smith, Sharon B. "Chapter 11: Fame and Fortune". The best there ever was : Dan Patch and the dawn of the American century. New York, NY: Skyhorse Pub.ISBN 1616085851.
^ "DAN PATCH SICK.; Noted Pacer Has Strangulated Hernia, but Will Recover". The New York Times. 14 September 1904. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^ "Dan Patch Victor". news.google.com. Meriden Morning Record - Google News Archive Search. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b "Dan Patch Victor; Paced Fastest Mile Ever Made by Horse". Meriden Morning Record - Google News Archive Search. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
^ "Season's Records of Dan Patch". news.google.com. Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search. December 3, 1905. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b "Dan Has Broken World Records 14 Times". The Journal of Agriculture and Horticulture - Google News Archive Search. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
^ "Dan Patch 1908 (advertisement)". news.google.com. The Journal of Agriculture and Horticulture - Google News Archive Search. February 1, 1909. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^ Jump up to:a b Doyel, Gregg. "Doyel: Can a famous horse save a fading Indiana town?". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
^ "Remembering Dan Patch". Standardbred Canada. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
^ "Jate Lobell Standardbred Pedigree". www.allbreedpedigree.com. Retrieved 7 March2017.
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